UEFA Cup: Fiorentina - Villareal [25-10-07]

[dukeofdavinci]

Fiorentina confront Spanish demons


ACF Fiorentina will look to improve an unedifying record against Primera División opposition as they seek a first win on Spanish soil against Villarreal CF in Group C.

• The two sides have never met in European competition.

• Villarreal have played nine games against Italian opposition, winning four, drawing two and losing three. All four of those victories have come in home games and with three 2-0s and a 1-0, they have yet to concede a goal at home against a Serie A side.

• Fiorentina have played eleven games against Spanish sides, winning two, drawing three and losing six. Three of those games have been major European finals. They lost 2-0 to Real Madrid CF in the 1956/57 European Champion Clubs' Cup and then met Club Atlético de Madrid in the 1961/62 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, drawing 1-1 and then losing 3-0 on a replay.

• Fiorentina's record in Spain is not impressive. Of their five fixtures in Villarreal's home nation they have drawn one and lost four.

• Fiorentina have not won an away game in Europe since beating Arsenal FC in the first group stage of the 1999/00 UEFA Champions League. Their last UEFA Cup away win was a 2-0 against Grasshopper-Club in the second round of the 1998/99 competition.

• Villarreal's French midfielder Robert Pires and Fiorentina's young striker Arturo Lupoli were team-mates at Arsenal FC in the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons. However, Lupoli made no league appearances during the the first of these campaigns when Arsenal finished second in the Premier League.

• Villarreal's Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi has recent Serie A experience having spent much of last season on loan at Parma FC. Danish striker Jon Dahl Tomasson also saw plenty of action in Italy in three seasons at AC Milan between 2002 and 2004.

• Fiorentina defender Alessandro Potenza has experience of Spanish football after spending the 2005/06 season on loan at RCD Mallorca. Veteran striker Christian Vieri also played in the Primera División with Club Atlético de Madrid in the 1997/98 season, scoring 24 goals in 24 league games.

• Fiorentina's Belgian defender Anthony Vanden Borre celebrates his 20th birthday on 24 October, the day before the Villarreal game.

• IF Elfsborg are at home against AEK Athens FC in the day's other Group C game.

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first group stage match for viola against a tough opponent.

[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli believes in UEFA magic Thursday 25 October, 2007

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Fiorentina boss Claudio Prandelli hopes the Viola can carry their superb Serie A form into tonight’s daunting UEFA Cup clash with Villarreal.

The Gigliati are third in the League after a magnificent start to the campaign, but they are undoubtedly underdogs as they travel to the Madrigal.

After needing penalties to squeeze past Dutch side Groningen in the last round, a marked improvement is needed if they are to take a point in their opening Group C game.

“We need to take advantage of our good form and we must take our chances,” Prandelli admitted.

“Villarreal are a very dangerous side. I have asked my lads to go out and play calmly, without thinking about the result.”

The Tuscan outfit have also been drawn with Swedish side Elfsborg, Greeks AEK Athens and Mlada Boleslav, the Czech minnows who upset Palermo.

“At the moment we are playing every three days and so we need to change the team around based on what I’ve seen in training.”

Azzurri stars Franco Semioli and Riccardo Montolivo are sidelined as is fellow midfielder Massimo Gobbi, who has failed to fully shake off a knee problem.

“We can deliver, and Christian Vieri and Martin Jorgensen give the side that extra experience,” the Brescia-born boss continued.

“We are working hard to try and be amongst the best in every competition.”

One familiar face ready to welcome the Viola is Azzurrini hitman Giuseppe Rossi who has enjoyed an impressive start to life in La Liga since his summer move.

Fiorentina squad: Balzaretti, Dainelli, Donadel, Frey, Gamberini, Jorgensen, Kroldrup, Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Lupatelli, Mutu, Osvaldo, Pasqual, Pazienza, Pazzagli, Pazzini, Ujfalusi, Vanden Borre, Vieri

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[D-Kin]

Fiorentina have arrived in Spain to face Villarreal in tonight’s crunch UEFA Cup tie.

Giampaolo Pazzini is likely to start on the bench with Christian Vieri ready to line up alongside the prolific Adrian Mutu in attack.

Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Donadel, Jorgensen; Vieri, Mutu

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[D-Kin]

UEFA Cup, Group C - 25/10/07
Villarreal 1-1 Fiorentina
Vieri 49 (F), Capdevilla 87 (V)
Estadio El Madrigal

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Fiorentina were hit by a last-gasp Villarreal equaliser after a spirited performance at the Madrigal.

The Viola needed penalties to squeeze past Groningen in the last round and came into the game as clear underdogs, but had an 16-game unbeaten run to defend.

While the result will have pleased the Tuscans, they came agonisingly close to a memorable victory.

The Gigliati cause wasn't aided by injuries to Azzurri midfield pair Franco Semioli and Riccardo Montolivo who watched from home.

Veteran marksman Christian Vieri started alongside the prolific Adrian Mutu leaving Giampaolo Pazzini on the bench.

Cesare Prandelli's men began fearlessly and had the better of the opening exchanges.

Danish winger Martin Jorgensen showed no rustiness after a long period out of action and nearly cut a ball back to Adrian Mutu in the fifth minute.

Jorgensen was again dangerous a minute later as his ball found Vieri, but the ex-Inter star was dispossessed inside the box.

Sebastien Frey had his first test in the Viola goal when he had to rush out to deny Marcos Senna and he did well to stop a header from ex-Milan front man Jon Dahl Tomasson shortly after.

The pace of the game slowed after a bright first 20 minutes and neither side looked willing to upset the status quo.

With three minutes remaining in the first period, Fiorentina saw Vieri denied by an onrushing Diego Lopez.

The first half ended with little drama with Prandelli the happier Coach, but the real action was still to come.

Just four minutes after the interval, the Viola went ahead.

Zadravko Kuzmanovic pounced on some sloppy midfield play from the hosts and fed Mutu whose cross from the left was steered home by Vieri for 1-0.

A tired Jorgensen left the pitch after 58 minutes for a richly deserved rest and Dutch starlet Anthony Vanden Borre entered the fray.

Goal hero Vieri was replaced by Pablo Daniel Osvaldo as Villarreal rolled the dice by sending Santi Cazorla and Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci on for captain Josico and Cani.

Nihat's first action was to squander a free-kick in a promising position with 20 minutes remaining as the Italians started to be pushed back.

Tomas Ujfalusi nearly had an opening on the counter-attack, but Diego Lopez arrived to fall on a long Mutu ball.

Mutu was denied by a dubious offside flag as Serie A's second-placed side looked capable of sealing the points.

With time running out for the Spaniards and the crowd showing their frustration, free-kicks and bookings started to accumulate.

However, there was a sting in the tale as Villarreal levelled with three minutes left.

Giuseppe Rossi's free-kick was met by the head of defender Joan Capdevila and the home fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Prandelli can be proud of the way his side performed and will be pleased with the draw, but his men came within a whisker of a heroic three points.

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Villarreal: Diego Lopez; Angel, Godin, Fuentes, Capedevila; M Fernandez, Josico (Cazorla 63), Senna, Cani (Nihat 63); Tomasson (Pires 78), Rossi

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Balzaretti; Pazienza, Liverani, Kuzmanovic (Donadel 75); Jorgensen (Vanden Borre 58), Vieri (Osvaldo 65), Mutu

Ref: Lannoy (Fra)

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[D-Kin]

Unlucky, but still a decent result.